MS Dhoni should be playing domestic cricket, reckons Sunil Gavaskar

The past few months have been a roller coaster ride for Dhoni. The "Indian finisher" turned back the clock with some eye-catching knocks in this year’s IPL in Chennai Super Kings' comeback season, which ended with them lifting the IPL trophy for the third time. Dhoni scored a total of 455 runs from 16 games with a tournament best of 79*.

However, things have been different for Dhoni since then. In the recent tour of England, he was criticised for below-par batting displays on multiple occasions during the limited-over series against the home team. Coming into the Asia Cup, he hasn't been able to find his groove again. Former Indian opener, Sunil Gavaskar, is of the opinion that the 37-year old wicket-keeper ought to get some game time in the domestic cricket leagues in order to rediscover his form. 

“Absolutely (when asked if Dhoni should feature in domestic cricket). Dhoni should be playing domestic cricket and should be playing the four-day games as well because he will help so many of the emerging players from Jharkhand.

“In the 50-over game you have limited opportunities but if you play a four-day game and play a long innings its great for your stamina, for your legs, for the rhythm that you want in limited-overs cricket,” Gavaskar told India Today.

In the ongoing year, Dhoni has amassed a total of 189 runs in 9 ODI innings at an average of 27, which is well below the CSK skipper’s usual standards. While Dhoni has been an influential member of the team on the pitch as he is the go-to man for Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma when it came to tactical advice. However, his sluggish form with the bat has caused the Indian team some problems, especially in the death overs.